Ultrasound guided ablative-laser assisted photodynamic therapy of basal cell carcinoma (US-aL-PDT).

Abstract Objective: With proper noninvasive ultrasound measurement of tumor depth, case selection for laser pre-ablation followed by PDT is possible. This combination of methods provides a less invasive approach to the treatment of BCC. Background data: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) primarily affects the face, and, therefore, radical excision is problematic because of the possibility of poor aesthetic outcomes. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers an advantage in aesthetic outcomes, but topical PDT is only effective for tumors with a depth up to 2 mm. Materials and methods: Seventy-five histologically verified BCCs from 67 patients were selected and divided into three therapeutic groups based on the tumor depth, which was determined by 20 MHz skin ultrasound. The three groups were: A/ 3 mm (diode laser ablation+PDT). The treatment consisted of laser ablation (or no ablation) followed by the application of methyl-aminolevulinate (MAL) and a 3-h treatment ...